Automobile antenna



Sept 4, 1955 P. x. NOEL AUTOMOBILE ANTENNA Original Filed Jan. 2l, 1949 INVENTOR Z/'0 X ./VOS

Unpited States Patent O AUToMoBlLE AN'I'ENNA Philip X. Noel, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Original application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,905, now Patent No. 2,617,933, dated November 11, 1952. Divided and this application February 16, 1952, Serial No. 271,887

7 Claims. (Cl. 189-26) This invention relates to retractable and extendable telescopic radio antennas, as for example those used in automobiles and the like which are operable from within the car, and more particularly to antennas of this type which have actuating means comprising exible pushpull rods or elements formed of dielectric material, connected to the antenna sections to raise and lower the same.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 71,905, led January 21, 1949, now Patent No. 2,617,933, granted November 1l, 1952.

Antennas of the type mentioned have been very successful when using push-pull elements or strips formed of a synthetic fibre-forming polymeric amide, forms of which are known commercially as nylon This material has proved to be extremely satisfactory from the electrical standpoint, since it enables the capacity of the antenna to be made advantageously low and to remain substantially uniform for all adjusted positions of the antenna sections. In these prior antennas the nylon driving strip, which was connected to the innermost antenna section, was disposed so as to extend through the other antenna sections when the antenna is extended, and this strip was subjected to considerable axial compression by the driving means therefor when the antenna was fully extended. The reason for this axial compression was that the antenna sections which were provided with stop means, were in combination with said means, arranged to determine the uppermost position or limit of the nylon push-pull strip by halting the upper extremity of the strip; the halting of the strip caused the latter in turn to halt or stall the power means driving the strip. 'Ihis placed the strip in compression, and caused it to assume a wave-like shape having reverse bends, even though the strip was relatively closely confined by the outer tubular antenna sections which carry the innermost, driven section.

I had found that if the nylon push-pull or driving strip is allowed to remain in such a condition of axial compression, with reverse bends throughout its length, it will after a period tend to retain the bends formed therein, and this will adversely aect the operation of the antenna, especially where the driving strip is engaged and driven by oppositely-disposed friction wheels.

In accordance with the present invention, this diiculty is obviated. In accomplishing this, I provide an improved and novel stop means associated with the nylon push-pull strip itself and with the casing for the power means of the antenna; preferably this stop means comprises a collar xedly carried by the free portion of the nylon driving strip adjacent the lower end thereof, cooperable and engageable with a stop or abutment on the antenna casing, the arrangement being such that the stop means comes into play just prior to the antenna sections attaining their upper-most extended positions. By this organization the stop means and a relatively short portion of the nylon push-pull strip is made to assume practically all of the force resulting from halting or stall- Patented Sept. 4, 1956 ICC ing of the power means, and the said force is one'of tension rather than compression. The major portion of the driving strip, disposed within the outer, tubular antenna sections, is subjected to only a relativelyA small axial, compressive force which is insuicient to heavily load the strip and cause it to take a permanent set whereby reverse bends are made permanent and interfere with the driving of the strip.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the improved telescoping antenna of the invention, part 'f the casing body being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the parts of the antenna in fully extended position, the stop means carried by the nylon strip being shown abutting a portion of the casing and assuming most of the force exerted on the nylon strip by the power means.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in plan, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the improved antenna of the present invention comprises a casing 10 having a body portion 11 and, projecting upwardly from the portion 11, an upright extension 12.

The body portion 11 of the casing is preferably formed of die cast parts and consists of an upper part 13, a

lower part 14, and an intermediate part 15 which is disposed between the upper and lower parts 13 and 14 respectively.

The lower part 14 of the casing may carry an electric motor (not shown) disposed on its end, the motor shaft 16 extending upward through the intermediate part 15 of the casing as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to actuate the mast sections of the antenna (to be described later) in response to movement of the motor shaft 16, the shaft carries a worm 17 engaging worm wheels 18 carried on shafts 19 passing through bearing blocks 20 formed integral with the intermediate casing part 15. The shafts 19 extend angularly to each other as shown in Fig. 4 and at their proximal ends mount friction wheels 21 engaging a nylon driving strip 22 which passes between the wheels, as pictured in Figs. 1 and 4.

Referring to Fig. l, the upper end of the nylon driving strip 22 is connected with the lower end of the innermost antenna or mast section 23 of the antenna, to actuate this section. The mast section 23, which is preferably a solid rod, is slidably carried in a tubular mast section 24 which is in turn slidably carried in an outer mast section 25 rigidly mounted in the casing extension 12.

When the motive means which powers the shaft, 16 is energized, rotation of the shaft 16 will cause the vfriction wheels 21 to turn, thereby raising or lowering the nylon driving strip 22 and in turn raising or lowering the antenna mast comprising the inner mast section 23 and intermediate mast section 24.

In accordance with the present invention an improved means is provided for limiting the upward movement of the mast sections whereby operation-interfering permanent deformation of the nylon driving strip is prevented. Heretofore, when the mast sections of prior antennas were raised by rotation of friction wheels engaging a nylon driving strip, all of the stops carried by the mast sections became engaged and halted the movement of the sections at their extended positions. Upon this occurring the friction wheels would slip and continue to rotate until the motive power was shut off, and this would cause the nylon driving strip to be heldvunder substantial axial compression, and would result in the strip becoming bent within the confines of the mast sections 24 and 25, with slight reverse bends. Even after the motive power was deenergized, the nylon strip would remain under considerable compression and continue to stay bent, and I have found that this ultimately resulted in the strip being permanently deformed, adversely aifecting the operation of the driving mechanism.

According to the present invention, however, I provide a stop collar 26 on the lower portion of the nylon driving strip 22, the said collar being adapted to engage and abut the lower end portion 27 of a tubular iitting 23 which is secured to the lower part 14 of the antenna casing 11 (through which casing the nylon strip 22 extends) just prior to all the mast sections becoming fully extended. In other words, as shown in Fig. 2, when the antenna mast sections are raised, the stop collar 26 engages the fittingl 28 just prior to stops on the mast sections becoming all operative. In Fig. 2 it will be seen that the intermediate antenna section 24 carries on its lower end a stop collar 29 which may abut a cooperable bushing 30 provided in the upper portion of the outer mast section 25. Also, the inner mast section 23 carries a stop collar 3l which may engage a cooperable bushing SZcarried in the upper portion of the intermediate mast section 24. It will be seen that when the antenna mast sections approach their fully raised positions, the stop col lar 31 of the section 23 may engage the cooperable bushing 32 of the mast section 2d, or the collar 29 may engage the bushing 30, but under no circumstances could both collars be made to respectively engage both bushings at one time, since the stop collar 26 on the nylon driving strip 22 will always rst engage the lower end portion 27 of the fitting 23. Thus the major portion of the force exerted on the nylon driving strip 22 as the friction wheels 21 continue to rotate subsequent to halting of the antenna sections is a tensile stress and is carried by that portion of the nylon driving strip disposed between the friction wheels 21 and the stop collar 26; this stress tends to straighten the said portion of the strip, and to not cause any bends to be formed. The portion of the nylon driving strip extending between the friction wheels 21 and the lower end of the inner mast section 23 is of course under a certain amount or compressive stress. However, this stress is considerably less than that heretofore encountered in driving strips of prior antenna constructions, and is due mainly to the weight and friction of the mast sections, and not to engagement of all of the cooperable stops of said sections. Therefore, there will be much less tendency for the nylon driving strip 22 to be permanently deformed with reverse bends, as was heretofore found to occur.

Referring to Fig. 3, the collar 26 is preferably formed from a straight strip of metal bent into a shape somewhat like an open ligure S, the collar being disposed in a transverse groove 33 provided in the lower portion of the nylon driving strip 22. The construction of the stop collar 26 and its application to the nylon driving strip 22 may thus be economically accomplished.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an automobile antenna, a hollow stationary antenna section; a movable antenna section extendable from and retractable in the stationary section; a exible pushpull strip connected at one end with the movable section to actuate the same, said strip occupying the stationary antenna section when the movable section is extended; driving means connected with the stationary section, engaging the push-pull strip between its ends and operable to axiallyV advance and retract the strip to raise and lower the movable antenna section; and stop means connected with the strip and stationary antenna section, rendered operative and opposing the force exerted by the driving means on the strip when the movable antenna section 4 is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip between the movable antenna section and the driving means is substantially relieved of said force, said stop means including a projection on and movable with the push-pull strip.

2. In an automobile antenna, a hollow stationary antenna section; a movable antenna section extendable from and retractable in the stationary section; a iexible pushpull strip connected at one end with the movable section to actuate the same, said strip occupying the stationary antenna section when the movable section is extended; driving means connected with the stationary section, engaging the push-pull strip, said means being operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower the movable antenna section; and stop means connected with the strip and stationary antenna section, renered operative and opposing the force exerted by the driving means on the strip when the movable antenna section is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip occupying the stationary antenna section is substantially relieved of said force, said stop means including a collar fixed to and movable with the push-pull strip.

3. In an automobile antenna, a hollow stationary antenna section; a movable antenna section extendable from and retractable in the stationary section; a exible push-pull strip connected at one end with the movable section to actuate the same, said strip occupying the stationary antenna section when the movable section is extended; driving means connected with the stationary section, engaging the push-pull strip between its ends and operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower the movable antenna section; a stop carried by the push-pull strip; and an abutment connected with the stationary antenna section, engaging said stop and opposing the force exerted by the driving means on the strip when the movable antenna section is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip between the movable antenna section and the driving means is substantially relieved of said force.

4. In an automobile antenna having a casing and an antenna section' extendable from and retractable in' the casing, an elongate flexible push-pull strip connected at one end with said section to actuate the same; driving means engaging the strip between its ends, said means being operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower said section; and means including a stop carried by the other end portion of said strip and including a cooperable stop connected with the casing, opposing the force exerted by the driving means when the strip is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip extending between the antenna section and driving means is substantially relieved of said force.

5. in an automobile antenna having a casing and an antenna section extendable from and retractable in the casing, an elongate liexible push-pull strip connected at one end with said section to actuate the same; driving means engaging the strip between its ends, said means being operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower said section; and a stop carried by the other end portion of said strip, engageable with the casing when the strip is advanced whereby the force exerted by the driving means is opposed by the stop, thereby substantially relieving the portion of the strip between the antenna section and driving means of said force.

6. In an automobile antenna having a casing and an antenna section extendable from and retractable in the casing, an elongate flexible push-pull strip connected at one end with said section to actuate the same; powered, opposed friction wheels carried by the casing, engaging the strip between its ends, said wheels being operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower said section; and means including a stop carried by the other end portion of said strip and including a cooperable stop connected to the casing, opposing the force exerted by the friction wheels when the strip is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip extending between the antenna section and friction wheels is substantially relieved of said force.

7. In an automobile antenna having a casing and an antenna section extendable from and retractable in the casing, an elongate flexible push-pull strip connected at one end With said section to actuate the same; powered, opposed friction Wheels carried by the casing, engaging the strip between its ends, said wheels being operable to axially advance and retract the strip to raise and lower said section; and stop means connected with the strip and casing, rendered operative and opposing the force exerted by the friction wheels when the antenna section is fully advanced whereby the portion of the strip extending between the antenna section and friction Wheels is substantially relieved of said force, said stop means including an abutment member carried by and movable 5 with the push-pull strip.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS lo 2,329,329 Brach et al Sept. 14, 1943 2,346,728 Carlson Apr. 18, 1944 2,634.370 Carlson Apr. 7, 1953 

